Kiran Tamang

Kiran Tamang It is not only about the nature and landscape. It is also about the people we meet, the moments we experience and the memories we create.
(3)

Kiran Tamang (The Himalayan Company), an outdoor adventure guide and company based in Nepal specializing in remote treks, wilderness camping and 6000m peaks expedition. I am Kiran Tamang, a freelance trekking guide and outdoor instructor based in Kathmandu - Nepal, eager and honored to share this beautiful landscape, diverse culture and grandeur of the Himalayas with you. Unbound by the traditiona

l rigidness of the travel and trek agencies, our journey begins by understanding your interests and preferences. Our itinerary serves as a guideline to plan our trips but doesn't define the entirety of our journey. Want to have an extra rest day ? Explore a side trail that you read about ? Merge your trek with an extended side tour ? Let's create the journey on how you see it fit for yourself and your friends. My role would be to guide you and advise you to make the most out of our adventure explorations whilst keeping a keen eye for your safety and well being. Specialising in the remote wilderness treks, camping treks and 6000m peak expeditions, I hope to create exciting and positive memories with you.

Exploring Ghorepani; a majestic stop over as a part of Annapurna Sanctuary and our final day amidst the Annapurna Circui...
29/02/2024

Exploring Ghorepani; a majestic stop over as a part of Annapurna Sanctuary and our final day amidst the Annapurna Circuit trek before heading back to Pokhara.

As a hillstation, Poonhill is a perfect spot to summarise the entirety of Annapurna trek by soaking in the grandeur of the beautiful Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges, where we spent nearly 10 days walking on the laps of these majestic wonders of Nature.

Nowadays, jeep service available from Tatopani has attracted large no of domestic tourists to this previously known gem of Annapurna Sanctuary giving us the mixed feelings of whether to position this destination within our itinerary. However, the mesmerizing views makes it a beautiful conclusion to our chapter of Annapurna Circuit.

As you see the timeless marvel of nature that unfolds in front of your eyes, you manifest the most rewarding experience ...
26/02/2024

As you see the timeless marvel of nature that unfolds in front of your eyes, you manifest the most rewarding experience of your life. Enduring the extremes, your mind stays focused on the steps ahead and for a brief period of time, you forget about your past and you would not worry about your future. You would be living deeply in the moment and for that instance, its only one more step that matters.

In uncommon of ways, your mind is free, filled with serenity. For that moment, you are only with yourself and your happiness. That is why, it is as much a spiritual journey. Nature heals you in unconventional ways.

Annapurna Diaries
Kiran

23/02/2024

An impromptu invitation to attend the wedding ceremony in the village of Ghunsa. We embarked on the trek to North Base Camp joking about the wedding ceremony that was taking place in the village and how awesome would it be to attend the event.

None the less, as we cut short out 4 day time into 3 as we skipped a rest stop and directly pushed to Lhonak followed by the trip to Pangpema, we descended down quite weary from the cold and long hours we had endured. As we got into the relatively warmth of Ghunsa, all of us were looking forward to the hot shower and coffee & cakes. That's right, the lone coffee and cake house famously known as Dzongla Family House sells the most delicious of Chocolate and Coffee cakes along with freshly brewed coffee. Even better, the wedding ceremony was of the owner of this teahouse and kindly invited us.

What followed was a small glimpse of hospitality that the Eastern Nepal is known for. Being the last group of trekkers for the region, the evening started with some 'Tonbga' a fermented millet wine and culminated into the cocktail of beers, whiskey and rum. Culturally, this was a profound experience as we observed the rituals and dances of local Sherpa people where the whole village participated. This was indeed once in a lifetime experience. Could not have asked for more. Until next time Ghunsa, now you know, where my love for Eastern Himalayas stems from. It feels like a home away from home.

Enroute Mt. Jannu (7710m) View Point, an excellent acclimitisation hike from Khambachhen (4180m) to View Point (approx. ...
22/02/2024

Enroute Mt. Jannu (7710m) View Point, an excellent acclimitisation hike from Khambachhen (4180m) to View Point (approx. 4600m). Part of Kanchenjunga Massif, Mt. Jannu is 32nd highest mountain in the world and known as one of the most technically challenging mountain to summit.

The first summit of Mt. Jannu was by the British expedition of 1962 led by Lionel Terray. The locals believe that the true peak of Mt. Jannu can never be conquered as its the abode of Spirit of the Himalayas and more importantly the ancestral spiritual path for Limbu community. Ginettee Harrison from UK became the first woman to summit Mt. Jannu in 1998.

This is an special day amidst Kanchenjunga Circuit trek, as we traverse up along the Jannu Glacier moraine to reach the view point and the symbolic temple of Phaktanglung. This day prepares us to adapt for the day to follow in Lhonak (4800m) and next to North Base Camp (Pangpema) of the majestic Mt. Kanchenjunga. There are not any teahouses enroute so packed lunch along with energy bars would help us tremendously as it could take one as long as 4 hours to reach the viewpoint and additional 2 hours to come back.

Join me in this epic adventure to the nearly forgotten existence of Eastern Himalayas of Nepal and know the stories of these wonders of nature and creation.

Fabled as one of the most beautiful trekking routes in the world, Annapurna Circuit is a beautiful trek traversing from ...
20/02/2024

Fabled as one of the most beautiful trekking routes in the world, Annapurna Circuit is a beautiful trek traversing from Sub-Tropical to Alpine nature, giving you an amazing experience to be immersed in the diverse landscape of Nepal.

Aside from the wonderful panorama of the Annapurna Himalayas, the trek passes through picturesque villages who have affectionately transformed itself onto thriving cluster of teahouses. Enroute the trail passes through the largest apple orchard of Nepal where you would find the modernised approach of attracting new age trekkers with its affectionate apple based bakery products and apple wine. From its attempt at luxurious hospitality to rustic teahouses, this circuit is a classic fiesta for the trekkers worldwide.

The warmth from the kindness and love of the people you cross paths with amidst the journey is what makes trekking in th...
29/01/2024

The warmth from the kindness and love of the people you cross paths with amidst the journey is what makes trekking in the majestic himalayas different from everyone else.

The sight of your food being cooked in the primitive wood fire stoves all the while chatting up against the language barriers filled with impromptu smiles and laughter makes this journey a true immersive and cultural experience.

The final picture is rather unique as we sheltered inside the yak herder's shelter near the Ice Lake due to cold weather and came across a fresh peice of yak meat or what remained of it. Now we knew, where those famous Yak Steaks originated from. Costing upwards of 1000 USD for a Yak, it surely is an exquisite culinary experience.

About 1 and half hour away from the beautiful camp of Khambachhen lies the mystical view point and a sacred religious si...
22/01/2024

About 1 and half hour away from the beautiful camp of Khambachhen lies the mystical view point and a sacred religious site for 'Limbu' ethnic community called 'Phaktanglung'. Popularly known as Mt. Jannu or Mt. Kumbhakarna, the locals believe this mountain as the mother diety where all their ancestors' spirit returns to after the demise of life. Also, the local Sherpa people believe that this mountain also harbors a portal to the ethereal dimension of gods and goddesses.

Technically, Mt. Jannu is known as one of the most technically challenging to climb and there have been few successful summits. Locals believe the true summit of the mountain could never be conquered as the spiritual energy of the mountain doesn't allow the climbers to step atop her. This beautiful day trek is one of the most promising acclimitisation day for our Kanchenjunga Circuit trek as its elevation is approx. 4600 mtrs, nearly 400 mtrs from Khambachhen and prepares us physically for the camp of Lhonak which lies at 4800 mtrs.

Never the less, it is one of the most intrighing culmination of spirituality and mountaineering as we see a large dome shaped rock symbolically worshipped as the avatar of Mt. Jannu herself. Nearly an hour away from the temple lies the true base camp of Mt. Jannu where expeditions (if operating) establishes their campsites. Considering the grandeur of the Kanchenjunga massiff, it definitely gives us the sense of minisculity of our existence in front of these true wonders of nature.

The best days followed by gloomy clouds. Never I had imagined, that AMS could masquerade itself as cold and flu. What we...
20/01/2024

The best days followed by gloomy clouds.

Never I had imagined, that AMS could masquerade itself as cold and flu. What we thought as a bad case of cold, nearly dominoed into the monstrosity of altitude sickness.

Thankfully, the quick reaction and actions from all of us allowed to adapt to the situation and a rapid descent saved the day. Thankfully, we had mustered up to have the most amazing and beautiful experience to be at Tilicho lake. The journey itself to that point was all we could ask for.

However, it was a brave decision to cancel further ascent and solemnly experience what we accomplished and saw. This has indeed been a valuable learning experience for me as a trek leader and also, one of the most fulfilling to think about. Here is to the lovely people that I promise to be with next time for their future endeavors in Nepal and hope to see you guys soon. Couldn't be more happier to see you safe and smiling again.

Kiran

The infamous Tilicho landslide trail enroute Tilicho Base Camp is an extension to the Annapurna Circuit trek that takes ...
19/01/2024

The infamous Tilicho landslide trail enroute Tilicho Base Camp is an extension to the Annapurna Circuit trek that takes us to the high alpine Tilicho Lake at an elevation of 4919 metres. This is also the route towards the less popular Mesokanto Pass that connects towards Jomsom.

Wary of the falling rocks due to erosion, high winds and occassional play of Blue Sheeps, this particular section requires vigilance to traverse safely. Though there has not been any fatality, there have been plenty of incidents of trekkers getting injured due to rock fall. Never the less, the rewards of this journey outshines the dangers of the trail.

Ice Lake also known as 'Kicho Tal' in local dialect is an alpine lake situated at 4620 metres which falls on our infamou...
18/01/2024

Ice Lake also known as 'Kicho Tal' in local dialect is an alpine lake situated at 4620 metres which falls on our infamous "Rest Day" at Manang.

For those who have trekked with me before, you know that the rest part of the description is a beautiful deception to acclimatise ourselves for the upcoming days all the while we are greeted with one of the most surreal views of the Annapurna massifs unfathomed by the photographs that we share.

The old trail from Mananag makes this day hike an hour shorter unlike the traditional route from Bhraka. One could say, in the entirety of the circuit, the views enroute Ice Lake are undeniably the prominent highlight of the journey.

Once again, our journey took us on the wonderful grandeur of the Annapurna region, passing through one of the most beaut...
18/01/2024

Once again, our journey took us on the wonderful grandeur of the Annapurna region, passing through one of the most beautiful trekking of the world.

However, the road tracks that has now connected all the way to Manang and possibly connects with Thorong La (known as world's highest trekking pass), the future of this majestic landscape for trekking is uncertain.
Avoiding massive crowds and jeeps was our concern as we started our journey on the early autumn of October.

Thankful for the resilience and the strength as a team, we crossed the fabled Thorong La amidst snowfall and completed our trek creating lifetime of memories with each other.

As for one of the most frequently asked question to me, "Don't you get bored of traversing through the same landscape again and again ?". The answer is as simple and as complicated as one could think of. The appreciation for wilderness and mountains never fades away, for me its much more about the people I meet, the moments we share and memories we create.

Annapurna Diaries
Kiran

The cultural and gastronomic experience of trekking through the Eastern Himalayas of Nepal truly embraces the essence of...
17/01/2024

The cultural and gastronomic experience of trekking through the Eastern Himalayas of Nepal truly embraces the essence of trekking in this beautiful country. Underrated and undervalued, the Kanchenjunga Himalayas is the paradise for trekkers who wish to induldge in the local culture and spirituality, food and farm produce, people and their way of life.

Nestled with terraces of rice field and orchards producing the freshest of the green vegetables from the small family garden of the teahouses on the trek, this journey is a gastronomical experience unlike the vastly commercialized choices of other trekking regions in Nepal. For our clients who are unsure if their dietary requirements would be fulfilled with utmost hygienic practices, I am happy to report the availability of fresh produce all throughout the trek provides you with simple yet enriching culinary delights, one of the most famous being the 'Dal Bhaat', a staple of Nepali food that inlcudes portion of Rice, fresh vegetable curry, lentil soup and pickles. And the people who have trekked to the region before with us, exactly know, there is always a generous portion for refill.

With Selele High Camp on our backdrop, Selele Pass (4616m) welcomed us. Slowly surrounded by the gloomy snow clouds, we ...
16/01/2024

With Selele High Camp on our backdrop, Selele Pass (4616m) welcomed us. Slowly surrounded by the gloomy snow clouds, we reached the first pass in about 1 hr 15 mins, 45 minutes earlier than I had anticipated.

Soon after the first pass, we crossed Shinon La and made our way down towards Andha Phedi, a perilous steep section where we shed nearly 1400 - 1600 metres to make our way towards Torongden. Cutting short our itinerary due to closed hotels in Tseram, we could not push towards Kanchenjunga South Base Camp (Oktang) to complete our Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek.

Leaving the backdrop of magnificient Kanchenjunga along with shadows of Everest and Makalu on the far North-west, this particular day turned out to be longer than anticipated. However, thankful for the hotel owner who were waiting for us (considering we were the last group of trekkers to cross the pass and reach the South side of Kanchenjunga), we were welcomed with the warm smiles and hospitality that the region is known for. Warming up our body with 'Tongba', liquor made from fermented millet grains, we had reached on the 2nd last day of the strenous Kanchenjunga Circuit trek. One final day remained to finally be back to the civilisation that we had left behind nearly 2 weeks ago.

Kiran
Kanchenjunga Diaries

Traversing through the beautiful Rhododendron, Himayalan Bamboo, Himalayan Birch forests, the circuit trek takes you to ...
13/01/2024

Traversing through the beautiful Rhododendron, Himayalan Bamboo, Himalayan Birch forests, the circuit trek takes you to the North Base Camp also know as Pangpema and through to the South Base Camp, known as Oktang via the fabled Selele pass.

This picture is enroute to Selele High Camp, the 3 to 4 hours of uphill ordeal after leaving the village of Ghunsa. The area is famous for its Black Bear sightings on the monsoon months. The availability of a lone tea house before reaching the high camp makes this section especially challenging with its never ending stairs. However, the trail that takes you through the beautiful forests and right above the treeline on its end makes the journey worth it to the every step.

Kanchenjunga: The Spirit of the HimalayasAmidst the far eastern himalayas of Nepal lies the majestic Kanchenjunga (3rd h...
04/01/2024

Kanchenjunga: The Spirit of the Himalayas

Amidst the far eastern himalayas of Nepal lies the majestic Kanchenjunga (3rd highest mountain of the world), awaiting in her grandeur with pristine wilderness and solitude.
With ever growing crowd on the popular trekking routes of Everest or shared jeep treks of Annapurna or Manaslu, Kanchenjunga Base Camp trek is one of the last remaining remote adventure and wildnerness trek that is awaiting for the trekkers who are looking for the rustic experience that they read and heard about most probably from 1970s and 80s throughout the now fabled Annapurnas.

Requiring atleast 16 days of your commitment of which 2 days are well spent towards reaching the trek starting point of Sekathum in Taplejung district of Nepal lying on the Far North-Eastern region of the country, you could imagine the remoteness of the trek. Now, the infrastructures are in place to have a decent rustic tea house trekking experience, it is definitely away from the modern and luxurious amenities of other commercial destinations. However, I can attest that the lack of commercialization has infact helped preserve the authenticity of this wonderful destination and is certainly backed by the love and warmth of the small family run teahouses where you would feel all the compassion that overpowers the need for modern amenities.

The trek goes through one of the most amazing and challenging landscapes of lush Subtropical, alpine and temperate forests and deep vegetation. The conservation area is home to the fabled Queen of the Himalayas: Snow Leopards and the elusive Red Pandas along with 28 of the 32 species of Rhododendrons found in Nepal. While Kanchenjunga is a restricted area trek, permit fees are the most affordable compared to other restricted areas. Passing through the beautiful cardamom plantations, rhododendron, pine and Himalayan Birch and Himalayan bamboo forests, the trek takes you to the Kanchenjunga North Base Camp through the fabled Selele Pass to South Base Camp, making a complete circuit trek.

Writing this post, I imagine countless trekkers looking at Annapurnas or Everest for their next destination whilst reading about the overcrowded and overwhelming experience, this time could be the perfect time to challenge yourself and embark on this once in a lifetime experience of truly embracing the Spirit of the Himalayas; Kanchenjunga.

Best wishes,
Kiran

Address

New Baneshwor/10
Kathmandu
44600

Telephone

+9779862212123

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Kiran Tamang posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Videos

Shortcuts

Share

Category